The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Osun State chapter, on Monday visited major markets in Osogbo, capital of Osun State to sensitise market women on Lassa fever.

The chairmen NMA in the State, Dr Tokunbo Olumide Olajumoke, said the awareness was targeted on market women to sensitise them on lassa fever and how to be careful with the vector which is rat.

In a chat with journalists after the sensitisation campaign, the NMA chairman said the outbreak of Lassa fever in Ondo State caused worry in Osun as the victim of the Ondo Lassa fever died in Ile-Ife, Osun State

His words: “It is very paramount to sensitise the traders on this and that’s why we embarked on this awareness tour to major markets in Osogbo and we are talking to the people in the local language and in a manner that they can understand and get the message so that we can prevent Lassa fever rather than waiting to treat people when infected.

“As you are aware, Lassa fever is already ravaging Ondo State, which is very close to Osun and there have been reported cases of Lassa fever in Osun. We have recorded a death in Osun as a result of Lassa fever at the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital in Osun here and it was confirmed.

“Also, 40 people are currently quarantined at isolated centers and they are under close examination to determine if they have been infected. We realised that prevention is better than cure and that was why we came out to sensitise traders today.”

The leader of the market women at Akindeko Market, Alhaja Sidikat Abidogun, after listening to the doctors commended the NMA for the initiative and urges the doctors to intensify the campaign and cover more markets so that majority of the people would be aware of the scourge.